4 months ago
The Dutch Olympic committee's determination to prime kid rapist Steven van de Velde to compete for Paris 2024 bas baffled and caused anger among many.
But contempt intersexual offences limiting your chances of moving successful galore professions, location are nary rules stating a personification pinch a criminal grounds cannot compete successful nan Olympic Games.
Convicted activity offender van de Velde could still execute his sporting dreams this summertime contempt raping a British 12-year-old woman successful 2014 and being sentenced to 4 years successful prison.
The Dutch volleyball player, 29, served 12 months successful England for nan crime and was transferred to nan Netherlands to service different period earlier being released.
The sportsman was wholly alert of nan child's property erstwhile he flew to meet her successful England aft nan brace connected connected Facebook.
Yet, contempt nan judge who handed him his condemnation claiming 'his hopes of representing his state are shattered', van de Velde is still doing truthful successful nan Olympics.
Steven van de Velde took portion successful a believe convention astatine nan Champs de Mars parkland successful nan protector of nan Eiffel Tower
The Dutch volleyball player, 29, served 12 months successful England for nan crime and was transferred to nan Netherlands to service different period earlier being released
The 6'6' Dutchman van de Velde (right) conducted a 60-minute work-out pinch doubles partner Matthew Immers (left), 23, without erstwhile removing his sunglasses
Van de Velde (centre) arrived successful nan French superior amid tight information yesterday connected a Eurostar train from Rotterdam
The bare-chested jock brandished respective tattoos connected his torso and arms
The training convention took spot successful 25-degree noon power and yards from wherever nan French female volleyball squad were moving out
Van de Velde arsenic he is taking a break to portion immoderate electrolytes successful nan 25-degree noon power astatine nan volleyball training session
Why is he allowed to compete?
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said nan prime of athletes for nan Olympics was selected by individual committees.
Meanwhile, nan Dutch Olympic Committee (NOC) said van de Velde returned to nan arena 'following a master curen programme'.
It said: 'Van de Velde has afloat engaged pinch each requirements and has met each nan stringent consequence appraisal thresholds, checks and owed diligence. Experts person stated that location is nary consequence of recidivism.
'Van de Velde has consistently remained transparent astir nan lawsuit which he refers to arsenic nan astir important misstep of his life. He profoundly regrets nan consequences of his actions for those involved.'
Pieter van den Hoogenband, Netherlands cook de mission, besides said astir nan business while speaking connected Dutch TV.
'He's not going to downplay it [his conviction],' Van den Hoogenband said.
'We person to respect that and thief him arsenic a personnel of nan squad to beryllium capable to perform.
'He has been progressive successful world athletics and nan world of formation volleyball for a agelong time.
'He has participated successful World Cups, European Championships [...], but you spot that astir nan Games it is different. Things are amplified astir nan Games.
'We person taken bully steps together. All nan athletes are beloved to maine and I effort to support them.'
The Olympian was seen stretching successful nan soil up of his training convention pinch nan Dutch volleyball team
Van de Velde celebrates during a crippled astatine nan Beach World Champs successful 2023
Van de Velde's information successful nan athletics met guidelines group by nan Dutch Volleyball Federation (NeVoBo), nan NOC said.
Ciara Bergman, nan CEO of Rape Crisis England and Wales, said 'it is shocking that you tin rape a kid and still compete successful nan Olympics'.
Ms Bergma has urged nan IOC to behaviour an investigation into really this is possible.
Anna Meares, nan Australian Olympics squad chief, said a convicted rapist would not beryllium selected by her country.
She said: 'If an jock aliases unit personnel had that condemnation they would not beryllium allowed to beryllium a personnel of our team.
'We person stringent policies connected safeguarding wrong our team.'
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